Surface-wave communications and methods thereof

• US 9,674,711 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2016
• Issued: 06/06/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Henry, Paul Shala, Willis, III, Thomas M., Bennett, Robert, Barnickel, Donald J, Barzegar, Farhad, Gerszberg, Irwin
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Fayyaz
• Application Number:
  US15/254,841
• Publication Number:
  US 20160373937A1
• Time in Patent Office: 278 Days
• Field of Search: 455 7, 455 14, 455 15
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/46 Electric supply lines or communication lines
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/36 Repeater circuits H04B3/58 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/52 Systems for transmission between fixed stations via waveguides
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/56 Circuits for coupling, blocking, or by-passing of signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/022 Site diversity; Macro-diversity using two or more spaced independent antennas H04B7/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 16/26 Cell enhancers or enhancement, e.g. for tunnels, building shadow
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/52 using AGC [Automatic Gain Control] circuits or amplifiers

Abstract

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a system including a frequency mixer that combines a signal and a carrier wave to form a combined signal, and a transmitter that generates a transmission based on the combined signal. The system can also include a coupling device that emits the transmission as an electromagnetic wave guided by an outer surface of a transmission medium. The electromagnetic wave can propagate longitudinally along the surface of the transmission medium and at least partially around the surface of the transmission medium. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

means for receiving a wireless signal from a communication device;

means for converting the wireless signal to an electrical signal;

means for frequency-shifting the electrical signal to generate a frequency-shifted signal; and

means for generating a transmission of the frequency-shifted signal to induce, via a coupling device, an electromagnetic wave guided by a transmission medium, wherein the coupling device has a central axis that is not coaxially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the transmission medium, and wherein a portion of the coupling device is parallel to a surface of the transmission medium.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic wave comprises one or more propagation wave modes.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic wave comprises an asymmetric wave.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic wave comprises a symmetric wave.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein a wavelength of the electromagnetic wave is less than a circumference of the transmission medium.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmission medium comprises an uninsulated conductor.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the transmission medium comprises an insulated conductor, and wherein the portion of the coupling device that is parallel to the surface of the transmission medium is further tangential to the transmission medium.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic wave at least partially surrounds the transmission medium.

9. A method, comprising:

receiving, by a receiver, via a coupling device that is not coaxially aligned with a longitudinal axis of a transmission medium, an electromagnetic wave guided by a surface of the transmission medium, a portion of the coupling device being parallel to the surface of the transmission medium, and the electromagnetic wave at least partially surrounding the transmission medium;

converting, by the receiver, the electromagnetic wave to an electrical signal;

generating a frequency-shifted signal by frequency-shifting the electrical signal to a frequency band utilized by a communication device; and

generating a wireless transmission of the frequency-shifted signal for processing by the communication device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the electromagnetic wave has a fundamental wave mode.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the frequency band comprises a cellular frequency band.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the electromagnetic wave has a non-fundamental wave mode.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the electromagnetic wave has a wavelength that is less than a circumference of the transmission medium.

14. An apparatus, comprising:

a coupling device that facilitates receiving a guided electromagnetic wave from a transmission medium, the coupling device having a central axis that is not coaxially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the transmission medium, and a portion of the coupling device being parallel to a surface of the transmission medium;

a mixer that facilitates combining the guided electromagnetic wave and a carrier wave to form a down-converted signal; and

a transmitter that facilitates generating a wireless transmission based on the down-converted signal.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the coupling device comprises a waveguide.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the guided electromagnetic wave comprises a fundamental wave mode.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the guided electromagnetic wave comprises a non-fundamental wave mode.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein a wavelength of the carrier wave is less than a circumference of the transmission medium.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the transmission medium comprises an insulated conductor or an uninsulated conductor.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the wireless transmission is directed to a mobile communication device, and wherein the guided electromagnetic wave at least partially surrounds the transmission medium.